My Rule for Life

I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Merry Conservative Christmas to You All

It's been 3 weeks since I posted as you may have noticed.  It's not for the lack of subject matter. Actually it's being overwhelmed with Conservative subject matter.  First you have the Republicans capitulating to the likes of Harry Reid and barrack hussein obama on just about everything except a trillion $ budget.  DATA, comes to mind.  Talk about not thinking this one through!  Holy Mercy!  START (?).  Should be named STOP!!! in the name of all that is Holy.  Give away American safety and security for the promise to be good.  Gee when was the last time the Russians lied to us! And to top it off, John Boehner decides to leave WDC early to work on his tan and doesn't vote on the last bill in the House.  Along with about 130 other worthless pieces of dog poo!  What in the world is wrong with these people.  Have they forgot November all ready!

That's OK,  B O is working on his tan in Hawaii with the rest of his family for the next two weeks. Hopefully he won't do too much damage while swimming in the blue surf..  Can you say Rip Tide.  (Opps is that the Secret Service knocking on my door).

Like I said overwhelming.  Schools sending permission slips home so the kids can say the Pledge of Allegiance. If that isn't good enough the Pledge may be re-worded to omit the words, "under God".  Please tell me it ain't so. We had a local radio Pastor who ask people to put a Cross by their Nativity Scene to show the Birth of Christ was the beginning of our Salvation and the Cross was Christians receiving the Salvation.  Sad part of it was people wanted to do it but couldn't find only a few stores that sold and outside Nativity Scene.  Even The Home Depot only had small shelf type ones for sale.  But by golly they had plenty of Santa stuff. Elves, Snowmen, Clowns, and just about everything else. The list goes on and on and on and on.  Just call me a cynical old man.  I still believe a man's word and works is his binding honor.  It's a damn shame the world doesn't operate that way anymore.  It's all about the $$$$.  It's not about the birth of Jesus.  So Sad

Now after that uplifting prologue I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Great New Year.  And, I really mean it.  You all take Care and God Bless,

Pops

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Why Term Limits, Why Not, Why Now!

Admittedly I do not know Congressman Charlie Rangel.  I know only of him through the news.  I've never been to his district in New York.  Undoubtedly he is well liked.  He has spent the last 40 years representing the people of his district well enough to get himself re-elected.  Over, and over and over and over again.  That in itself does not necessarily make him a good representative, only a good politician. He began his political career in 1971 at the rate of $42,500 per year*  He and the rest of the Congressmen and women currently are paid $174,000 per year plus benefits above and well beyond what the average American receives.  A very healthy sum what ever year your wish to align your salary with.  Although this is not meant to be a pick on Congressman Rangel it does cause me to wonder why we have so many millionaires in Congress.  I don't know who said it however, the saying goes something like this.  When does a politician's campaign for re-election start?  The day after he wins the election.

 That should say something to all of us.  Do we want our elected officials interviewing for a job that may be two, four, or six years away?  I don't.  I want them there working on the problems of the country, their state and their district.  Do you really think George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Winston Churchill really gave a damn about getting re-elected.  I think not.  They cared.  They cared about their country, the people in the country and the future of the country.  I have heard George Washington had to mortgage his farm just to have the money to get to Philadelphia for his inauguration.  I am sure some historian can verify or refute that.  But, if true the point is sacrifice for the good of country not for the good of getting re-elected (aka good of yourself).

Let me go back to Congressman Rangel for a moment.  I wish my good friend Elizabeth would read this as she is a counselor and a professional. She would (might) be able to make an unofficial clinical decision as to whether Congressman Rangel is in denial.  I think he might be but I am just a commoner.  I am reminded of the pictures of the late Senator Strom Thurmond and the late Senator Robert Byrd in their last days in Congress. They were pushed onto the floor of Congress by aides in wheelchairs.  When they spoke it was quite sad as you (I) could tell they were a mere shell of themselves. The fire and power and strength they once had was faded and gone. I wondered at the time if they even knew what was going on.  What really concerned me was did they even know what they were voting on.  Congressman Rangel is 80 and appears in pretty good health.  Senator Thurmond was in his 90's I believe, as was Senator Byrd.  I am not advocating a mandatory retirement age.  I do feel that we all reach an age where we are better off to turn over the reigns and sit back relax and enjoy the young people making mistakes.  Just as we did and they will do.  It's called learning.  Sometimes easy, sometimes hard, nonetheless, learning.

We must push our elected officials now to enact term limits on the Senate and the Congress.  It's good enough for the President, thank goodness, and it's good enough for Congress.While main stream America has the eyes and ears of the current Congress would this not be a good time to push for term limits?  Personally I think 12 years is plenty.  A true American would be allowed to serve 6 Congressional terms or 2 Senate terms. No more, pick your poison.  You want to be a Congressman fine, you want to be a Senator that's fine too but, 12 years service period!  Oh yes, your salary.  How about the average of what the American blue collar guy makes.  That's about $45,000. The real median earnings of men who worked full time, year-round climbed between 2006 and 2007, from $43,460 to $45,113.*  How do these guys/gals become millionaires?

Just some food for thought on this desperate and dateless Saturday night.

May G-d Bless America and keep our brave warriors safe.

Pops 

Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Destruction of the embryo in the mother's womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.

Read more about this famous Lutheran Pastor at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer


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